Straight knitting machine



Oct. 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 16, 1951 J, P. LUDWIGv I STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE 15 sheeis-sheet 2 Filed Feb. 2,' 194s NmN www WI T NESSES i A TTORNE YS.

Oct- 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2,` 1948 15 sheets-sheet 3 V W1 TNESSES I N V EN TOR.'

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG 2,571,591

' STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE v Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 4 j vWn---f 101 102 245 uf/q" "XIII f WI'INESSES INVENTOR.'

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STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 5 FJH- 6L jIZ zzi IZl

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STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 6 W1 TNEssEs INVENTOR.-

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15 Sheets-Sheet '7 w n v NN @E Filed Feb. 2, 1948 W I TNESSES Oct. 16, 1951 J, p, LugwlG 4 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 8 XW V ATTORNEYS.

Oct 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Feb. 2, 1948 HG ZI 135 @i L35 1,32

INVENTOR.- Joan/Iesdall/awl, BY M /M ATTORNEYS.

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STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15-Sheets-Sheet 10 ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE 15 Sheets-Sheet 1l Filed Feb. 2, 1948 INI/EN TOR; Jaazmesizu/adwy,

ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 16, 1951 J, P, LUDWIG 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTlNG MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVENTOR- Jaa/Y/zesazzilzzdzvg@ A TTORNEYS,

Oct. 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 194s 15 sheets-sheet 1s jfl/6L 5].

WI TN ESSES v I N V EN TOR BY @mu ATTORNEYS.

OCL 16, 1951 J. P. LUDWIG 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 2, 1948 15 Sheets-Sheet 14 WI TNESSES A TTORNE YS Oct. 16, 1951 1 p, LUDWIG 2,571,591

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE D CI enmenmm@ W I TNESSES Patented Oct. 16, 1951 2,571,591 STRAIGHT rrNI'r'riNo MACHINE Johannes Paul Ludwig, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Phoenix Hosiery Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application February 2, 1948, Serial No. 5,808

(Cl. Gli-89) 10 Claims.

` This invention relates to straight knitting machines of the Cotton type ordinarily employed in the production of dat fashioned stocking blanks and the like. Mere particularly, it is concerned with straight knitting machines organized for the production, in one operation, of fashioned blanks with the legs and feet in direct continuation and characterized by having gusset heel cheeks or tabs. In United States Patent No. 2,430,882 granted to me on November 18, 1947, is disclosed such a machine wherein to form the heel tabs or cheeks, auxiliary bear presser elements individually associated with groups of end needles are brought into action in progressively increasing numbers, with incidental gradual increase in the traverse in opposite directionsof two separate yarn carriers used in the heel knitting while intermediate instep needles are prevented from functioning, this action being carried out for a definite period whereupon the procedure is reversed for a corresponding* period, with the result that the heel cheeks take the form of rectangular gussets at opposite sides of the blanks lintermediate the ankle and foot portions.

The `chief aim of my present invention is to provide in a knitting machine of the kind specifically referred to, improved mechanisms for governing variant selection of the auxiliary presser elements and for actuating them, and for controlling the traverse of the yarn carriers used in the formation of the heel cheeks, all with a View toward making possible smoother and more rapid operation of the machine and thereby enhance its efficiency for attainment of an increased output of the product therefrom.

' Other objects A.and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein Fig. l is a broken out fragmentary view showing the rear elevation of a straight knitting machine conveniently embodying the present improvements.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectionv taken as indicated by the angled arrows in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken out fragmentary view showing the lower part of the machine in front elevation.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in front elevation 'ofthe upper part of the machine showing one 'of the knitting' subdivisions.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows V-V in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail views in cross section taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows VI--V I, VII-VII, VIII-VIII and IX-IX in Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary detail view in horizontal section taken as indicated. by the angled arrows X--X in Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view looking as indicated by the angled arrows XI-XI in Fig. 5.

` Fig. -12 is a fragmentary view like Fig. 4 drawn to a larger scale with portions broken away to expose parts which would otherwise be concealed.

Figs. 18, 14 and 15 are detail views in horizontal section taken as respectively indicated by the angled arrows XIII-XIII, XIV-XIV, and XV-XV in Fig. 12.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows XVI- XVI in Fig. 3 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 17 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 16.

Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are detail sections taken as indicated respectively by the angled arrows XVIII-XVIIL XIX-XIX, XX-XX and XXI-XXI, in Fig. 16.

Fig. 22 is a broken out fragmentary view of a control chain forming part of the mechanism in Fig. 16.

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary view in plan looking as indicated by the angled arrows -XXIII--XXIII in Fig. 3 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 24 is a view in front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 23.

Fig. 25 is a section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXV-XXV in Fig. 24.

Fig. 26 is a cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXVI-XXVI in Fig. 2 showing the needle press mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 27 is a fragmentary view in horizontal section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXVII-XXVII in Fig. 26. Fig. 28 is another cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXVIII- XXVIII in Fig. 2 showingA the catch bar actuating mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 29 is a fragmentary View in horizontal section taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXIX-XXIX in Fig. 28.

Fig. 30 is a transverse sectional View of the machine taken as indicated by the angled arrows XXX-XXX in Fig. l.

Fig. 31 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. 30 with certain of the parts differently positioned. v

Fig. 32 is another transverse section taken as --indicated by the angled arrows XXXII- XXXII in Fig. 1.

Fig. 33 is a fragmentary view showing the nether portionof one of the stocking blanks produced by the'machine.

Figs. 34-38 are diagrammatic views showing successive steps in the formation of the heel tabs of the stocking blank.

With more detailed reference first more particularly to Fig. 1 of these illustrations, the numeral I comprehensively designates a knitting section (whereof there may be several) of the machine, the same occupying the interval between an adjacent pair of the transverse frames 2 which, after common practice, are united at the bottom by front and rear longitudinal beams 3 and 4, and at their tops by a longitudinal center rail or bed 5. Mounted on the center bed 5 is the guide head 6 for the usual horizontally slidable sinkers 1 which cooperate in a well known manner with spring beard needles a. Up and down movements are imparted to the bar 9 which carries the needles 8 and which is pivotally connected to rocker arms 9 (Fig. 26), by appropriate mechanism (not shown) actuated from the cam shaft II] of the machine. In and out movements are at the same time induced in the needle bar 9 incident to fabric loop formation for closure of the needles normally through engagement with a presser ledge II at the front of the sinker head 6, by the press mechanism shown in Fig. 26. This press mechanism comprises a rotary cam on cam shaft I having treads I2 and I3, and a system of levers including an arm I4 with a roller I5 arranged to ride the treads of said cam respectively during the ordinary phases of the knitting and during the fashioning phases when the cam shaft is shifted endwise after common practice in the art. The catch bar for retracting the sinkers 1 is shown at I6 in Fig. 28, the same being moved in and out by a rocker arm I1 having a roller I8 thereon running normally on the periphery of another rotary cam I9 on shaft IU. The mechanism for imparting the required up and down movements to the catch bar I6 may be of the customary construction and has therefore also been omitted from the drawings. Two of the yarn carrier bars of the machine are shown at 2U and 2| with their carriers 22 and 23 respectively. The carrier 22 I employ to feed a yarn y (Figs. 34-38) during the knitting of the leg and foot portions of each stocking blank and also, as later explained, during the knitting of one of the heel cheeks, and the carrier 23 I employ to feed a separate yarn y during concurrent knitting of the other heel cheek. 'I'he couliering mechanism for actuating the yarn carrier rods is not illustrated since it too may be of conventional construction.

To control the inward traverse of the yarn carriers 22 and 23A during the heel knitting as also later on explained, I utilize (as in my patent hereinbefore referred to) a spindle 24 with left and right hand screw threads for oppositely shifting follower nuts 25 and 26 having stops 25', 25 for engagement by stop projections 29 and 38 respectively on said carrier rods. The forward and reverse racking mechanism R2 for the spindle 24 is operated in a well known way through movements derived from the cam shaft I8 under control of cam lugs on the usual narrowing chain 35 (Fig. 3) of the machine. For the purposes of my invention in the heel knitting, the narrowing chain 35 is provided with additional cam lugs (not shown) to effect the actuation of the racking mechanism R2 screw spindle 24.

Also cooperative with the needles 8 in the knitting are notched knock-over bits 36 which are secured in a bar 38. As shown in Figs. 4, 5, 9, and 11, downwardly projecting adjustable abutment studs 39 at the bottoms of the pendent end portions 40 of the knock-over bar 38 have their rounded ends engaged in socketed saddles 4I amxedto the ends of arms 42 which reach forwardly from a longitudinal rock shaft 43 suitably borne in the cross frames 2. Springs 45, exerting downward pull on the knock-over bar 38 at opposite ends thereof, serve to maintain the studs 39 engaged in the socketed saddles 4I. Through a pendant arm 46 with a roller 41 thereon (Fig. 4), the shaft 43 is oscillated by another rotary cam 46 on the cam shaft I0 of the machine. By this means, the knock-over bits 35 are raised and lowered during each rotation of the cam shaft I0, and hence during the formation of each course of the knitting. From Fig. 4 it will be noted that the knock-over bar 38 is confined to vertical sliding movement between guides 49 aixed to the front face of the center beam 5.

In accordance with my present invention, lateral movements are imparted to the knock-over bar 38 by mechanism which includes another longitudinal rock shaft 50 having a horizontal arm 5I with an upright extension 52 bolted to its outer end. The top of this upright extension 52 is bifurcated as shown in Figs. 4, 8, and 11, with resultant provision of fingers 55 which engage behind a downward lug 56 medially of the knock-over bar 38. A tongue 51, secured centrally of the top of the arm extension 52, engages upwardly into a central recess 58 in the bottom of the lug 56, see Figs. 4 and 8, and thereby serves as an additional engaging means. The shaft 50 is oscillated through the medium of an attached arm 59 (Figs. 4 and 5) whereof the roller 60 rides the periphery of another rotary cam 6I on cam shaft I0, the roller being held to the cam by a spring indicated at 62. Thus, during each rotation of the shaft Ill, the knock over bits 36 are moved upward and outward to the position shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to throw newly drawn fabric loops over the tops of the needles 8 before the latter rise to take fresh yarn for a succeeding course. During the heel cheek knitting, the in and out movements of the needle bar are modified, as described in my patent supra, to prevent contact of the beards of an intermediate group of needles with the presser ledge II. while variant groups of end needles are caused to knit as later on explained. Pressing of the beards of the heel needles is accomplished in the present instance by means generally similar to that employed in my prior patent. For the description of this means reference will be had more particularly to Figs. 4-11, 12-15 wherefrom it will be observed that said means includes two groups of auxiliary -presser elements 68 and 68a which are vertically slidable in boxes 69, 69a disposed forwardly of the front face of the center beam 5 immediately inward of the pendant portions 40 of the knock-over bar 38 and of the front face of the center beam 5 over the regions of the end groups of heel forming needles. Since the boxes 69, 69a and the parts associated with them are identical, the description which immediately follows of the former will be assumed to hold for the latter also. In practice, the presser elements 68 are struck from sheet metal and given the profile best shown in Fig. 7, their lower or shank portions 1I being straight, and their upper protruding portions 12 being outwardly offset and shaped to conform generally to the frontal configuration of the head portion of the knock-over bar. At their tops, the elements 56 terminate in thickened tips 13 each capable of acting on the beards of two adjacent needles. The shanks 'II of the presser elements 68 are engaged in vertical guide grooves of spaced horizontal ridges 14, 15 andl16 (Fig. 12) projecting 5 forwardly from the rear wall 1-1 of the box 59, andare held in place bythe removable iront wall T8 of said box. Normally, the elements 99 occupy the retracted or lowered position in which they are shown in Fig. 6 clear of the needles, and when elevated to the position of Fig. '7, their thickened tips 13 are positioned immediately forward of and in contact with the presser edge |I to-engage the beards of the heel needles as the latter move downward in forming loops from newly "fed yarn. In being lifted, the presser elements `68 are thrust outwardly somewhat to lbring their tips 13 into line with the presser edge IiI. This is accomplished, as shown in Fig. 7, through camming action between roundings 19 and 88 lat the bottoms of the slotted horizontal guide kridges 14 and 15 on the rear wall 11 of the box 69 respectively with similar roundings 8i and 182 von the back edges of the elements. In

vbeing subsequently lowered, the elements 58 are displaced rearwardly to their normal positions through coaction between cam roundings 83 on their front edges with an inwardly projecting horizontal ridge 84 at the inner side of the box cover 18.

The means by which the auxiliary pressers 5t are raised and lowered includes a plate 95 which is confined to vertical movement in a dove tail guideway 86 at the back of the rear wall 1? of the box 69, and which has a forwardly extending horizontal ledge 81 at the bottom. The ledge 81 is Aprovided with a longitudinal dove tail groove '88 which is occupied by a selector slide 99 hereinafter again referred to. Lowering of the elements 98 is effected by means of a pull down element .in the form of a cross bar 95 within the box 69', said bar having a bevelled lower edge for engaging counter bevelled notches 9| in the inner edges of said elements. Connected to opposite ends of the bar 99. are pendent straps 92 (Fig. 6) which, at their bottoms, are secured to the ledge A87| by screws93, see Figs. 6 and 12. Tension springs, shown at 95, pull downward upon the straps 92 and thereby tend to keep the ledge supporting plate 35 and the bar 9G lowered, with the shoulders 96 at the rear edges of the elements |58 resting on the top of the guide ridge 15, and with the bottoms of said elements clear of the slide 89 asin Fig. 6. Axed to the rear ci the plate 85 at the center is a pendent bracket arm 91 which, by means of a link 98 (Figs. 4 and 5f), is connected to a laterally projecting arm 99 on another longitudinal rock shaft |99 with bearing, support in the transverse frames 2 of the machine, said rock shaft being oscillatable through another arm thereon with a roller |92 arranged to be actuated by another rotary cam |93 on cam shaft I0. Normally the roller |02 is withdrawn beyond the plane of the cam ||I3:as in Fig. 5, with the end of the arm ISI resting on'an adjustable stop screw |95 in an upstanding bracket |95 on the front rail of the machine. A spring'shown at |81 (Fig. 5) in tension between a stud on the arm 99 and a downward tail` extension of the link 98, is influential in keeping the upper portion of the box 59 yieldingly in engagement normally with the front face'ofthe' center bed 5. In order that the presser elements Iii may follow the outward movement of the knock over bar 31 as the newly drawn fabric loops are displaced over the tops of the needles, the box 69 is hingedly connected at the rear to the center bar as indicated at H38, this movement being relatively slight as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and resisted by a spring finger |89 which is secured to the upward projection 520i arm 5I with its free end bearing against a lat eral oiset IIB of said box as best shown `in Figs. Ll, 9, 10 and 11. The box 69 is held to the center bed 5, with allowance for the movement just described, by a headed bolt I whereof the shouldered shank is passed through a vvertical slot |I2 in the offset IIB of said box and engaged in said bed.

Variant selection of the auxiliary presser elements 68 is effected by shifting of the slide 89 through the means best shown in Figs. l, 4 and 6. As illustrated, this means comprises a screwspindle II5` which, in this instance, is rotatively7 supported at the top of the machine at one end, and which is arranged to be intermittently rotated to shift a'follower nut It having a pendant extension I I1 in sliding engagement with a longitudinally extending shaft I I8. At its bottom end, the extension II'I of the nut IIG is secured to a rod ||9 supported for endwise sliding movement in the transverse frames 2. Through a coupling element at |29, the rod IIS transmits its movements to a parallel bar |2| at a higher level similarly guided in the transverse frames 2. Aixed to the bar I2I is a forked bracket |22 which is engaged by a stud |23 extending down from the selector 89 through a longitudinal slot |24 (Fig. 1) in the ledge 81 of the slide plate 8 5 of the box 99. Accordingly, as the spindle ||5 is rotated in one direction or the other, the selector S9 is correspondingly shifted to the right or left beneath the auxiliary presser elements 68 to select varying numbers of them as necessary in the heel cheek fashioning. A conventional form of reversible racking mechanism R, see Figs. 1 and 30, is relied upon to intermittently rotate the screw spindle II5 in opposite directions as required. In this mechanism, the arms |25 and |25 for the racking pawls P, P' are oscilla-ted in a well known manner through the linkage connections indicated at |21, by an arm |28 with a roller |29 adapted to ride the periphery of another rotary actuating cam I3i| on cam shaft I8. As shown, the follower nut IIS is provided with a stop IIG for engagement by another lug 21 on the carrier bar 2 I.

Identical mechanism is provided for selecting and actuating the auxiliary presser elements for the other end group of heel needles. Accordingly, in order to obviate the necessity vfor repetitive description, all the component parts of this duplicate mechanism have been identified by the same reference characters, with addition in each instance, of the letter a for convenience of distinction.

The narrowing phases of the machine for the shaping of the legs, heels and toes of the stocking blanks are determined in a well known manner through mechanism (not shown) under control of the usual narrowing chain which is indicated at 35 in Fig. 3. However, in accordance with my present invention, actuation of the screw spindles ||5 and |I5a incident to the heel cheek formation is controlled from a separate auxiliary chain |3| which is also illustrated in Fig, 3 and in Figs. 16, 17, 19, 21 and 22 as well. As shown, the auxiliary chain I3 I is trained about a driving sprocket drum |32 which is freely rotative about a stua I 33 projecting laterally from a bracket |34 on the front beam 3 of the machine, and to which is secured a ratchet wheel |35. Likewise free on the stud |33 are a second ratchet wheel |36 with an attached indexing wheel |31, and a swinging arm |38 which carries pawls |39 and |40 for picking the ratchets |35 and |36 respectively, said pawls being biased toward said ratchets by springs, not shown. The arm |38 is oscillated through maintenance of the engagement of its outer end, by a spring |4|, with one arm of a lever |42 medially fulcrumed on another bracket |43 on the beam 3, the other arm of said l'ever carrying a roller |45 (Figs. 2 and 1'7) which is arranged to be actuated by another rotary cam |46 on cam shaft |0. Normally the pawl |39 is held retracted from the ratchet |35 through engagement of a stud |41 thereon'by a guard finger |48 pivoted at |49 on the bracket |34 when said guard bears on one of the high spots of the indexing wheel |31 which comes to rest in the position shown in Fig. 18 at the consummation of each heel forming phase. Likewise normally, the pawl |40 is held retracted from the ratchet |36 by another guard finger |50 (Figs. 16 and 19) which is medially fulcrumed at on bracket |34, and which normally occupies the position shown in Fig. 17. Thus, notwithstanding the continual swinging of the pawl arm |38, the auxiliary chain |3| normally remains inactive. Starting of the auxiliary chain |3| is controlled from the narrowing chain 35 which for this purpose is provided with a cam lug |52 (Fig. 3) for actuating a bell crank lever |53. Through a link |55 the bell crank |53 is connected to the upward extremity of a lever |56 centrally fulcrumed at |51 on still another bracket |58 on the beam 3, the downward extremity of said lever being in turn connected by a link rod |59 with the pawl guard |50. Accordingly, as the cam lug |52 on the narrowing chain 35 underpasses the bell crank |53, the pawl guard |50 will be shifted to release the pawl |39 and thereby permit racking of the drum |32 to progress the auxiliary chain |3| by one link each time for every other revolution of the cam shaft I0, under control of the indexing wheel |31.

Fulcrumed for independent movement about another lateral stud |60 on the bracket |34 adj acent the sprocket drum |32, are angular levers |6|, |62, |63, |64, |65, and |66 whereof the horizontal extremities extend into the paths respectively of serially arranged lugs |61, |68, |68', |68, |69, |10, |10', |10", I1| and |12 transversely disposed on the auxiliary chain |3 The levers |6|, |62, |63, |64 and |65 have upstanding extremities Which, through horizontal links |15, |16, |11, |18 and |19 (Figs. 16 and 17), are connected to upright levers |80, |8|, |82, |83 and |84 on rock shafts |85, |86, |81, |88 and |89 which extend crosswise of the machine, and which have bearing in brackets |90 and |9| (Fig. 2) on the front and rear beams 3 and 4. Aflixed to the rear ends of the shafts |85, |86, |81, |88 and |89 (Fig. l) are arms |92, |93, |94, |95 and |96. By means of horizontal link rods |91 and |98, the arms |96 and |94 are respectively connected to bell cranks |99, 200 which are connected in turn to vertical links 20| and 20|a. (see Fig. 1, 26 and 21) to control the guards 202, 202a for the forward and reverse pawls P, P' of the screw spindle racking mechanisms R and R'. A horizontal link rod 203 connects the arm |95 with a lever 205 (Figs. 1 and 26) arranged to shift the roller |29 on rocker arm |28 into and out of the path of the rotary cam |30 on cam shaft I0. Similarly, a horizontal link 206 connects the arm |93 with a lever 201 arranged to shift the roller |29a on rocker arm |28a into and out of the path of the rotary cam |30a. The arm |92 (Figs. 1 and 28) is connected in turn by a horizontal link rod 8 208, to a lever 209 by which the roller 2|0 on rocker 2|| is shifted into and out of the path of rotary cam 2|2 to control pawling of the screw spindle 24 by a racking mechanism 2|3 and progressive increase in the outward traverse of the carrier rod |8 during the heel knitting. For

lshifting the roller |02 into and out of the range of the rotary cam |03 to cause lifting of the auxiliary presser elements 68 and 68a during the heel knitting, I have provided mechanism which is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. This mechanismincludes a multi-lobed cam wheel 2|5 which is rotative about a lateral stud 2 I6 on another bearing bracket 2|1 on the beam 3, and which acts upon a roller arm 2|8 free on another stud 2l9 projecting from said bracket. At its upper end, the arm 2 I8 engages a collar 220 on a longitudinally extending slide rod 22| which is yieldingly urged to the right in Figs. 3 and 24 by a spring 222. Afiixed to the cam wheel 2|5 is a ratchet 223 which is arranged to be operated by a pawl 225 on an arm 226 freely fulcrumed on the stud 2|6. Through a link 221, the pawl arm 226 is connected to a transversely arranged rocker arm 228 fulcrumed on a second stud 229 in the bracket 2|1 and carrying a roller 230 which is shiftable between eccentric and concentric tread portions 23| and 232 on another rotary cam 233 on cam shaft I0. Normally the roller 230 rides the concentric portion 232 of cam 233 to avoid racking of the cam wheel 2|5. The roller 230 is shiftable by means of a fork 235 on a short rock shaft 236 which is slidable endwise in supporting arms 231 affixed to the stud, by means of a horizontal lever 238 fulcrumed intermediate its ends on the beam 3. As shown, the lever 238 has its inner end engaged between a pair of collars 239 on the stud 236, while its outer end is pivotally connected to a collar 240 adjacent one end of a horizontal link rod 24|, the other end of rod 24| is pivotally connected to the downwardly inclined extremity of the bell crank |66 previously referred to. The collar 240 is free on the rod 24| and held to a fixed collar 242 by a compression spring 243 whereof one end abuts another collar 245. The tension spring at 246 (Fig. 3) is influential upon the rod 24| to yieldingly urge the cam arm oi bell crank |66 toward the sprocket drum |32. Connected to the rod 24| are forks 241 and 248. The fork 241 is relied upon to shift the roller I5 on arm |4 into and out of the path of the main press cam |2 on cam shaft |0 (Fig. 27) and the fork 248 to shift the roller |02 into and out of the path of rotary cam |03 on said shaft. During the heel knitting the press movement of the needle bar is modified through cooperation of another roller 250 on arm |4 with a special cam 25| adjacent cam |3 on cam shaft |0 to prevent direct contact of the needles with the presser ledge as set forth in my prior patent hereinbefore referred to. Centrally fulcrumed at 255 (Fig. 2) on a fixed pivot is a lever 256 whereof one end is engaged between a pair of collars 251 on control rod 22|, and whereof the other end is similarly engaged between a pair of collars 258 on a supplemental longitudinal slide rod 259 at the rear of the machine. Secured to. the supplemental slide rod 259 is a fork 260 for shift'- ing another roller 26| on arm |6 (Fig, 28) into and out of the path of a special cam 262 alongside the cam |9 on cam shaft |0.

Fig. 33 is produced in the usual way down to the line w-b-c-d at which the ankle terminates, from the yarn Y fed by the carrier 22, with the stop |I6a. on the nut IIa retracted to permit full traverse of the carrier rod 20. Throughout the leg knitting, the auxiliary presser elements 68 and 68a were maintained in their lowered inactive positions as shown in Fig. 4, so that pressing of the needle beards takes place as ordinarily by direct contact with the presser ledge II. At the completion of the leg portion of the stocking blank, the machine is stopped in preparation for the heel knitting, whereupon the stop IIBa is lowered and the carrier rod 2D is shifted to bring the lug 28 thereon into engagement with said stop, all as shown in Fig. l. In diagrammatic Figs. 34-38 which will be later referred to in explaining how the heel cheeks H are formed from the yarns y and y', the left and right hand end groups of the needles are shown as apportioned respectively into two subdivisions or sectional groups 8b, 8c, 8d and 8e, the needles of such groups being conventionally indicated by small open circles and by small line-shaded circles. The open circle needles of the groups 8b and 8d are employed in the formation of the heel sutures, and the shaded circle needles of the subdivision 8c and 8c in outwardly widening the heel cheeks; While the central group of instep needles 8a (indicated by the small solid circles) remain idle throughout the heel knitting and temporarily hold their loops.

With the machine made ready as just explained above, it is restarted to automatically carry out the heel cheek knitting, this phase of the knitting being initiated by passage of the cam lug |52 on the main or narrowing chain 35 (Fig. 3) beneath the bell crank |53. As a result, through the linkage |55, |56 and |59, the pawl guard (Fig. 17) is actuated to release pawl |40 which thereupon immediately picks a tooth of the ratchet wheel I 36, with impartation to the latter and to the attached cam wheel I3 of a corresponding rotative shift. At the same time, a tooth of the ratchet wheel |35 is picked by the pawl |39 and the drurn |32 of the auxiliary chain |3| thus turned by a linke amount. By this action, the first of the cam lugs |12 (Figs. 17 and 22) on auxiliary chain |3| is passed beneath and trips the bell crank |66 which, through the parts 24|,

238 and 235 (Figs. 23 and 24), causes the roller f 230 to be shifted into the path of the portion 23| of rotary cam 233 for a single revolution of cam shaft |0, incident to which the ratchet wheel 223 is picked one tooth by the pawl 225. A high spot onV the cam wheel 2 I5 is thereby brought opposite the roller 225 on nger 2I8 to shift the rod 22| leftward in Fig. 2 and to so hold it throughout the heel knitting, the supplemental rod 259 being at the same time shifted rightward by action of the lever 256. 241 and 248 to the rod 22| and the fork 260 to the rod 259, the roller I5 is shifted off the main press cam I2 with attendant change in the in and out movement of the needle bar 9 by action of the special cam 25| on roller I5 of arm I4 to prevent contact of the needle beards with the presser ledge |I during the heel knitting; the roller |02 shifted into the path of rotary cam |53 for actuation of the arm IIlI (Fig. 5) whereby, through the linkage 99, 98 and 91 and slide plate 85, the F selectors 89 and 89al are lifted to raise the auxiliary presser elements selected as presently pointed out to active position as shown in Fig. '7; and the roller 26| shifted onto the cam 262 for modification of the movements imparted to the Due to connection of the forks 10 catch bar. In the meantime, the auxiliary chain |3| is again racked through action of the pawl |39 upon the sprocket drum |32, and the first lug in the series |68 brought beneath the bell crank |62 (Figs. l, 2 and 16) whereby, through the parts |16, IBI, |86, |93, 206 and 291, the roller |29 (Fig. 30) is displaced into the path of rotary cam |36 on cam shaft Il and the racking mechanism R operated to turn the screw spindle |I5 in the proper direction for impartation to the follower nut I I6 of an incremental shog inwardly in Fig. l, Through the parts IIS, |20, I2I and 22, this incremental movement is transmitted to the selector 89 so that the latter is shifted one step in the same direction to the extent of two needles from its initial position in Fig. 34. to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 35.

At the next pick of the drum |32 and chain I3 I, the first lug of the series |16 on the latter acutates the bell crank |64, and through the intervening parts |83, |89, |55, 293 and 205, causes the roller |29a of arm |28a to be moved into the path-of cam |35@ on cam shaft I0, with resultant actuation of the racking mechanism R and impartation of a rotative shift to the screw spindle I I5a'. By the consequent outward movement of the follower nut I 26u, the rod I I6@ is shifted inthe samev direction and with it the bar |2 Ia and the selector slide 39a, the latter from-the position of Fig. 35 to the broken line position in Fig. 36. On the next shift of the chain ISI, the second lug of the series, in underpassing the bell crank |62, causes the selector 89 to be shifted from the position of Fig. 36 to the position of Fig. 37. On theV fourth i shift of the chain |3|, the second lug of the series |16, in acting upon the bell crank |64, causes the selector 69a to be shifted from the position of Fig. 37 to the position of Fig. 38. In this way, the selectors 89 and 89a are shifted inward step by step with gradual increase in the number of Through the intermittent rotative shifts imparted to the screw spindles I I5 and ||5a during the above action, the stops II6 and |I6a are gradually moved inward to allow correspondingincreases in the inward traverse of the yarn` carriers I9 and 2| as exemplified in Figs. 34-38. Also during the above action, the spindle 24 is intermittently rotated to shift the stops and 26 outwardly progressively and thereby allow increased outward traverses of the yarn carriers 3 22 and 23 so that more and more of the widening needles 8c and 8e are supplied with the yarns y and y. The operation of the spindle 24, as just explained, is effected by action of the lugs |61 upon the bell crank I6I which, through the parts |15, |55, |82, 298. 269 (Figs. 16, 1 and32), cause the roller 2I9 to be intermittently moved into the path of cam 2 I2 on cam shaft I6, whereby, through the roller arm 2| I and the connected pawl, the ratchet wheel of the racking mechanism 2|3 is picked. The procedure thus far described results in the formation of the upper triangular halves a-b-e and c--d-hbf the heel cheeks H at the opposite sides of the stocking blank in Fig. 33. For the knitting of the lower complemental triangular halves e-b-g and c-h-i the procedure is reversed, i. e. the number of suture needles 8b and 8d and the inward traverse of the yarn carriers 22 and 23 aregradually decreased under the control of the lugs 7s |66', |59, |16', and |1I of the special chain I3. 

